MELBOURNE 20 MAY 2009 – The
58th Melbourne International Film Festival is
pleased to announce that two stand-out Australian films will open and close this
year‟s festival. The Melbourne International Film Festival
Premiere Fund titles will present
their World Premieres to eager MIFF audiences. "In only the second year of
our film fund we are proud to be positioning the entire festival between the
bookends of two new and very diverse Australian features. We open on a serious
political note and will close in a riotous excess of colour and movement"
said MIFF Executive Director Richard Moore.

Coinciding with the
10 year anniversary celebrations of East Timor's Independence in 1999, MIFF will
open with the political thriller, Balibo,
at Hamer Hall on Friday
24 July. Director Robert
Connolly (The
Bank, Three Dollars) brings
to life the moving and true story of five Australian journalists who go to East
Timor in 1975 to cover Indonesia‟s invasion. Their story is told through
the eyes of a sixth Australian journalist, Roger East, who is lured to East
Timor by José Ramos-Horta, to investigate the truth behind the death of the
five men. Balibo features
stand-out performances by Anthony LaPaglia,
Damon Gameau, Gyton Grantley and
Nathan Phillips among a
large ensemble cast. "Having the World Premiere of Balibo
in my home town and as
opening night at MIFF is a terrific honour. It's also an important opportunity
to celebrate the resilience of the East Timorese in seeking independence, and
the important role played here in Victoria by the families of the Balibo Five
who championed the East Timorese cause over so many years" said Robert
Connolly.

Director Rachel
Perkins’ (Radiance,
First Australians) all
singing all dancing music spectacular Bran
Nue Dae will close the
festival with a Gala event on Saturday 8th August (festival will screen encore
sessions on Sunday 9th August). The film, based on the popular comedic musical
of the same name, features a stella cast including Geoffrey Rush,
Ernie Dingo, Missy Higgins, Deb Mailman, Nigali Lawford, Tom Budge, Dan Sultan and
Jessica Mauboy.
"MIFF was an early partner in realizing Bran
Nue Dae and t heir
early investment meant we could go out into the market and confidently say „this
film is going to happen!‟ Their contribution continued through assistance
with industry networking, advice and clear and concise feedback during the
progress of editing. MIFF has been a true partner in realizing our film and we
are delighted to be able to close the festival on a high note, with a
celebratory film like Bran
Nue Dae" said Rachel
Perkins.

The 2009 festival
will screen almost 300 films from world-class festivals, including Cannes,
Sundance, Rotterdam, Berlin and Toronto Festivals. The programme will feature
the work of world-renowned filmmakers, and more than a couple of unknown gems,
in its popular Homegrown presented
by the Commonwealth Bank, and Neighbourhood Watch,
International Panorama,
Backbeat, Animation Gallery, Next Gen and
Documentaries series.
MIFF also hosts the most highly regarded short film competition in the Asia
Pacific - Best MIFF shorts screens
approximately 100 short films, competing for a prize money of AUD$35,000.

A tense political thriller, Balibo recreates events surrounding the
shooting of five Australian journalists during Indonesia's invasion of East
Timor in 1975. BALIBO is told through the eyes of a sixth Australian, Roger
East, who is lured to East Timor by Jose Ramos-Horta to investigate the truth
behind the death of the five men, who were supposedly "caught in
cross-fire" during the invasion. read also Balibo
film clip trailers, etc...